NGO Name:
Young Entrepreneurs of Palestine
History:
Young Entrepreneurs of Palestine (YEP) is a budding organization based in Ramallah with a goal of promoting entrepreneurship and engaging Palestinian people (especially young and women) in economically productive activities. YEP gives a new value to the notion of entrepreneurship, reinforces the economic dimension of entrepreneurship and helps to build a solid foundation of human security (social, economic as well as national).
YEP is a membership based non-profit, non-governmental Palestinian organization, whose mandate is to promote entrepreneurship and support young entrepreneurs, especially those with scarce resources. YEP aims to enhance the active participation, involvement and contribution of young people to the growth and advance of the Palestinian economy and society through the establishment and development of small and medium enterprises in a variety of settings.
YEP was established beginning of 2003 upon the initiative of a dozen Palestinian young entrepreneurs, meanwhile YEP has 60 members. At its first General Assembly, February 2006, YEP opened the door for membership and is aiming at widening its base in Palestine to reach the total of 150 members by the end of 2009. Considering the contribution and significance that entrepreneurial SMEs could have as an important engine of growth, YEP aims at building a culture of entrepreneurship and leadership among Palestinian youth, increasing the number of entrepreneurs, enhancing the business environment for start-ups, expanding business through advocacy, promoting the business culture and the community based activities and facilitating entrepreneurship among young people (males and females) especially those with scarce resources.
Targeting young women and men of ages 18-45 years old, YEP provides young entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences, benefit from peer support, consultancy, capacity building, networking as they start up and grow their businesses. YEP also works in the field of lobbying and advocacy for the creation of an enabling environment that enhances the ability of the private sector and the civil society organizations to advance the development process in Palestine.
The idea behind starting Young Entrepreneurs Palestine was the pressing need for a professional body that is capable of representing the interest of and providing needed support to a broad group of Palestinian professionals including young top executives and entrepreneurs from all fields of the Palestinian business arena.
YEP is functioning since 2004 with a team of seasoned professionals. Its previous and current activities are focused on the promotion of entrepreneurship and engaging young Palestinian people in economically productive activities, the promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises, the economic empowerment of rural Palestinian women and the Promotional Social Safety Net Activities Component of the Deprived Families Economic Empowerment Program. Equality and Cooperation have the requisite organizational experience to implement more and large community and social projects.
Vision:
To become a leading service organization bringing the younger generation of entrepreneurs to strongly influence on all fronts and play a major role in shaping up the future of Palestine.
The purpose of this initiative is to establish a forum for young pioneers to be involved in business life and the decision making. The vision shared by the YEP members establish a distinguished standing of the future generation on all levels.
Mission:
To become a trade facilitator and trade information provider for the private sector, particularly those micro and small enterprises, through assisting the start-up businesses and facilitating business networks locally and regionally.
YEP attempts to be a key reliable source of policy input on the local level and seeks to engage Palestine’s business community in a constructive dialogue with policy-makers, providing key information on barriers to doing business as well as policy solutions.
Objectives:
• To increase the participation of micro and small business enterprises in local and regional trade;
• To build up a local and regional network of reliable business partners;
• To assist micro and small business enterprises in accessing information and communications technologies and promote the use of e-business;
• To become one-stop shop where micro and small business enterprises can obtain a wide range of trade-related services and guidance;
• To help micro and small businesses improve their trade efficiency and competitiveness;
• To build the capacities of existing and potential members, providing information about the business opportunities and means to challenge barriers to doing business;